Joyn to take on Apple’s iMessage

To combat the “growing popularity” of Apple’s iMessage, WhatsApp and other social-networking smartphone apps, Spain’s three biggest wireless service providers on Wednesday launched a free text messaging product called Joyn, reports “Investor’s Business Daily” (http://macte.ch/EzKgu).

iMessage is a texting service that Apple first rolled out with iOS 5. It’s free for those texting over Wi-Fi using an iOS device or Mac with iMessage. And it’s unlimited.

The Joyn service is being launched by Telefonica’s Movistar, France Telecom’sOrange and Vodafone. It will offer free messaging and, in some cases, free calls. Other European wireless firms, such as in Germany, are expected to offer the Joyn messaging service, according to “Investor’s Business Daily.”